The Impact of Executional Excellence Practices on Organizational Performance: Knowledge Application as a Mediator (a Field Study in Mobile Network Operators in Yemen)

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model (EFQM-EM) in terms of the executional excellence practices (EEPs) on organizational performance (OP) in the mobile network operators (MNOs) in Yemen, and analyze the mediating role of knowledge application (KAp) in this relationship. A quantitative approach was adopted to explore this relationship and study the conceptual model. A survey was developed to gather empirical data and distributed to mid and high-level management participants across four MNOs. A total of 219 questionnaires were valid for analysis with a response rate of 86 percent. This study employed the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to validate the research model through SmartPLS software. The results showed a significant impact of EEPs on OP, and a complementary mediation by KAp in the relationship between the EEPs and OP. The findings indicate that KAp promote the impact of the EEPs on OP. The findings indicate the importance of aligning knowledge application with high performance enablers, i.e., the excellence practices. The study elucidates that executive excellence practices require knowledge application practices to enhance organizational performance.